PREVIEW: Chelsea v Manchester United. It's time to deliver.

Enough is enough. We have heard the references to Moscow. We have heard about Chelsea being the "nearly men" as far as the Champions League is concerned. As Frank Lampard said yesterday, "The disappointments spur you on" and he is right.

This isn't just a normal game of football between two of the best sides in the country or in Europe for that matter. This isn't your run of the mill, cut and thrust game we see twice a year in the Premier League. This game means so much more to both sides. It has all the makings of a classic with two mouth watering encounters within a week.

For United it's a chance for to avenge the wrongs of recent games against Chelsea and take another step towards yet another Champions League for Sir Alex Ferguson. United's hunger and desire remains as high as it has ever been and you have to hold you hands up and give credit to them. If anyone knows how to win a game of football in Europe it's Fergie and he has been quick to speak of just how important the experience his players have in this competition.

Make no mistake, United will come here tonight and will look to score. They may start with a 4-5-1 formation as we all know that's Fergie's tried and trusted formation but they will look to hit us hard on the counter. Expect the likes of Scholes, Carrick and Anderson to Marshall their midfield. Expect Nani and Park on the wings looking to support Wayne Rooney up front.

In my view Darren Fletcher is a big miss and Fergie will miss his legs and work rate in the middle. Many times before he has played both Park and Fletcher at Stamford Bridge purely for their work rate alone.

United are a class act. We must not take them for granted and if Fergie does decide to go with a 4-4-2 formation, expect Hernandez and not Berbatov to start. Hernandez has claimed that United have better strikers than Chelsea. Of that, I am not so sure but Chelsea's defence needs to ensure they remain tight, compact and to press the likes of Rooney and Hernandez to deal with the threat they pose.

However, I do not believe they are as good as in recent seasons and I have posted on here a number of weaknesses they have as a team in defensive areas. These are areas we must expose.

Expect our back five to be, Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry and Cole. Ferreira in for Bosingwa as he is the better defender of the two with Luiz missing. Our full backs have to dominate their wide men early or it could be a long night for Chelsea.

I said it at the time, United played fantastic against us at the Bridge went in a half time with a more than deserved lead. Chelsea need to match United all over the pitch tonight from the start. We need to get hold of the ball and dominate possession.

The second half against United recently was a different story and Chelsea simply over ran their midfield. With the likes of Essien, Lampard, Ramires and Malouda tonight, we must do the same again but work just as hard without the ball.

For me, Frank Lampard's influence in the game could be huge tonight. We have seen many times before in the big games in the Champions League he makes a difference. We have seen Frank score important goals especially at the Bridge and with the gaps between United's midfield and defence when the opposition have the ball in and around the box, it could be ideal for Lampard's typical late run into the box to make them pay.

Forget everybody else tonight as the focus for me remains up front for Chelsea. I posted about it earlier and I do believe that Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres WILL START for Chelsea tonight. It looks like being 4-4-2 again with Torres in a straight swap with Anelka.

I think it's fair to say we know what to expect from Rooney and Hernandez for that matter even Berbatov. We know how well they all play together. As for Drogba and Torres, we haven't really seen anything of a partnership so far.

If you look at the two of them together you see the brute force of Drogba. On his game he is simply unplayable. He has the lot and is the most complete striker in the game. Pair him up with one of the best finishers in the game and we could have a frightening combination. Nemanja Vidic has had hard times up against both Drogba and Torres but never against the two of them together.

The key for this first leg tonight is just how well Drogba and Torres play together and how United weakened defence cope with the two of them. I believe Chelsea will score tonight and it really could be a case of how many.

The problem is, United have the potential to do exactly the same!.



KTBFFH

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